A-Force: Hypertime

by G. Willow Wilson, Kelly Thompson, Jorge Molina, Laura Martin, Matt Milla, Cory Petit
Collects A-Force #1-4 and Avengers (2015) #0

I picked up A-Force not realizing it comes straight out of the Secret Wars event. I can’t say how much one enjoys this with the context of the event, but as a standalone, I found A-Force lacking.

That’s not to say there isn’t a whole lot of good here. It’s always great to see a bunch of women superheroes working together, clashing together, without a whole lot of kitschy “look at us being women and stickin’ it to the man” – for that, you can flip to the back and read a very classic, very cringe “Lady Liberators” Avengers issue by Stan Lee. (I love ya, Stan, but…yeesh.) And they brought on two highly respected and prolific comic book women writers, G Willow Wilson (Ms Marvel) and Kelly Thompson (Rogue & Gambit), the latter of whom also wrote an excellent team book, West Coast Avengers, for two short arcs.

But I expected far more punchy dialogue and witty banter, especially between Wilson and Thompson’s respective writing skills; and for all these characters and their long histories (aside from Singularity), there isn’t much emotional investment in them becoming a team. (I’m still mystified by Dazzler.) The biggest disappointment is a one-note villain without any relatable motivation or anything interesting to say or do; and a quickly reversed death that fell flat.

Also….no Black superheroes on the team? Really? (And saying Dr. Bell counts…doesn’t count.) Nico Minoru is the team’s sole diversity add, and while it was fun to see her outside Runaways, some folks didn’t do their homework. Her incantation (“when blood is shed, let the Staff of One emerge!”) is left out and it would have been great if the letterer copied how her word bubbles change with her magical commands. (Also, including a queer character, would be nice if they had included it somehow.)

When it comes to the art, the coloring for space, Antimatter and Singularity were gorgeous. But I wasn’t a fan of Molina’s art – I’ll never be a fan of any artist who relies on exaggerated eyes and lips – and inking job was too heavy. Also, a few moments lacked correct perspective: a character being operated on suddenly has a sheet over her in the next panel, and a touching moment of sisterhood barely sees both women in the same frame.

A-Force was about as three stars as a three star book can get – not sure I’ll stick around for volume two.

Mr & Mrs X: Gambit and Rogue Forever

by Kelly Thompson, Oscar Bazaldua, Javier Pina, Frank D’Amarta, Joe Sabino; covers by Terry & Rachel Dodson
collects Mr & Mrs X #7-12
volume reviews: rogue & gambit – one | mr&mrs – one | two [complete]

My first book and review of 2021!

Gambit describes his relationship with Rogue as a mess, and unfortunately that’s how I would describe this book too.

Kelly Thompson knows Rogue and Gambit backwards and forwards; she can speak right to the core of these characters, her knowledge of their history is impressive, and she’s a master at their banter. My love of this couple and how Thompson writes them is usually enough for me; unfortunately, the story has a lot of problems.

Granted, I’ve never seen a good story set in the Mojoverse, yet in the early issues Thompson and team have fun dropping our couple into different genres as Mojo tries to captivate his audience. But eventually, the setting becomes a setup for Rogue’s self-therapy session; it’s a nice breakthrough, but the payoff would have been earned if it occurred during an actual experience, instead of exposition (Rogue talking to Rogue about herself). Adding in unnecessary elements like a revolution and alien horcrux didn’t help matters.

The final two issues retread tired ground with Gambit returning to New Orleans as the king of thieves. Bella Donna and others are familiar but ultimately forgettable (not unlike Spiral in the Mojoverse) ; like Rogue in the main arc, it ends with Gambit telling us who he is – snore.

Unfortunately I’m also not a fan of Bazaldua’s art, particularly how he draws Rogue. Her tiny eyes and hands make her look like a doll, and the constant mid-gasp look wasn’t great either. Javier Pina illustrates the final issue, which is a minor improvement, but not enough to save this. D’Amarta provides consistent colors and some nice background gradients, but it’s nothing earth shattering. And I’m really not a fan of Dodsons’ covers, Anka was far better.

While I’m glad to see Rogue and Gambit as one of very few happy married couples in comics, the series eventually lost its charm; hopefully they’ll have better stories in the future.

Mr & Mrs X: Love and Marriage

by Kelly Thompson, Oscar Bazaldua, Frank D’Amarta, Joe Sabino; #6 with guest artists David Lopez & Nayoung Kim; covers by Terry & Rachel Dodson
collects Mr & Mrs X #1-6
volume reviews rogue & gambit one | mr&mrs one | two [complete]

spoilers for Mr and Mrs X and X-Men Gold #30 in this review.
(Though the title is basically an X-Men Gold spoiler, so there you go!)

Kelly Thompson’s first series with Rogue and Gambit saw the two grow in their relationship and become engaged; now after X-Men Gold #30 (by Marc Guggenheim and Phil Noto), Thompson returns to a two-part series with our longtime couple unexpectedly married. The plot stumbled in a few places, but it’s is still a solid Rogue and Gambit story.

In the opening issue, Thompson and team return to the wedding in Gold and fills in a couple of gaps. The scenes don’t add much to Rogue and Gambit’s development, but set the stage and perhaps serve as a reminder for fans who hadn’t read Gold in a while – though the guests sure do a great job of forgetting the fact that it was originally another couple’s wedding. Gambit prepares a “romantic” honeymoon in space (and Rogue brings along a handy power inhibiting collar) – but of course, things go awry when they’re interrupted with a space mission.

At this point we get into, how did I call it? *checks notes* Shi’ar stuff in space, which I frankly couldn’t have cared less about. I have very little familiarity with this part of the X-verse, and while I’m always open to becoming invested in new characters, we meet so many so fast that it quickly became a haze. Deadpool was a fun guest star, though he’s thrown in for no reason other than to provide some hyper-sexualized jokes and get blown up. It’s fine, but not exactly what I envisioned in a Rogue and Gambit story, and eventually my strong investment in the leads were the only reason I kept reading.

Thompson has a strong voice on Rogue and Gambit, a big strength from the last book, and they carry the leads well here. But a majority of the book turns away from the relationship building focus in the previous couple’s series. Thompson ties it together at the end of the main arc in issue five, but I wish the characters had been given time to breathe and grow a bit among all the Shi’ar stuff in space. (A lot of stuff that happened, but didn’t feel particularly compelling.) The sixth issue, with guest artists David Lopez and Nayoung Kim, introduces Rogue and Gambit’s domestic life (feat. Gambit in a pullover sweater, many thanks), and brings a bit more character growth missing in the other five issues.

Bazaldua and D’Amarta bring us glossy, sleek art with some sexy honeymoon scenes and nice space landscapes, along with a funny scene featuring Gambit and Deadpool on an alien ship. But I’m not sure on Bazaldua’s faces; Rogue and other women are strong in doe eyes (though not quite anime), and facial features that made them look weirdly similar (see Rogue and Kitty above). In the opening issue, Mystique looked younger than Rogue which really threw me off. Lopez and Kim bring a relaxed and more flexible feel to issue six – it was a bit jarring between styles, but very pleasant once I settled in, and fit the nature of the engagement/wedding party. Lopez’s strong facial features pull you right into the kitchen with Rogue and Bobby, and there’s a charming two page spread of the party showing Rogue and Gambit in multiple places, as one does as host and hostess. Finally, I really didn’t care for the Dodsons’ covers and was frankly relieved they didn’t do any of the interior art.

I’m not rushing to volume two, but I’m looking forward to the conclusion.

Rogue & Gambit: Ring of Fire

by Kelly Thompson, Pere Perez & Frank D’Amarta; covers by Kris Anka
collects Rogue & Gambit #1-5
volume reviews: rogue & gambit – one | mr&mrs – one | two [complete]

In her Goodreads review, Anne calls this book a rom-com(ic) and she couldn’t be more spot on. Even though the plot and villain only serve to give Rogue and Gambit some couple time, it’s a charming and genuine exploration of two people who love each other, but have a lot of history, their own issues, and don’t fully realize how much they’ve hurt, but also how much they mean, to each other. The “couples’ retreat paradise” is, of course, a front for something more villainous, but it’s also a setup for Rogue and Gambit to work through their issues and confront their past selves, literally.

This is a must for Rogue and Gambit fans – I first became R&G fans from the animated series, and I heard their voices the entire time. Thompson has a lock on their individual voices and witty banter together, and it’s a delight. (Gambit’s French pet names for Rogue are adorable.) The story draws on a few moments from past comics I hadn’t read, but it’s still easy enough to enjoy. (I’m now using this handy guide to go back and read some of those comics – and yep, those outfits were all real.) Thompson beautifully balances the amusement of Remy and Rogue in therapy, and a thoroughly contrived villain, with a genuine and thoughtful arc as they learn to become more vulnerable and understand one another. It’s rather thin at times, but on the whole, it works.

Kris Anka is one of my favorite comic book artists and he just does magic with these covers. The man draws romantic stuff like no one else. I mean LOOK AT THIS. MAGIC.

(note: I think #5 is an homage to X-Men #24’s cover by Andy Kubert!)

When Anka’s online store is up again this year I hope “Rogue and Gambit wallpaper” is a purchasable item. But I don’t mean detract from Pere Perez’s work which is also gorgeous, especially the fight scenes with tons of past Rogues and Gambits, and D’Amarta does a lovely job with the colors. All around this is a fun and easy book that I really enjoyed, and looking forward to more in Thompson’s Mr. & Mrs. X.

Jessica Jones: Purple Daughter

by Kelly Thompson, Mattia De Iulis, Felipe Andrade, and Stephanie Paitreau
Collects Jessica Jones: Purple Daughter MDO Digital Comic #1-3
volume one | two

Purple Daughter is a magical combo of two writing pitfalls in superhero books: no one stays dead, and marriage is only interesting when the relationship is threatened.

Jessica spirals into depression and drinking (she makes up for not taking a single shot last volume), when she and Luke find their daughter Dani has turned purple. But after a seemingly final death from Bendis, a controversial, unique and intensely disturbing villain has become an exhausting rehash – god forbid Jessica has a rogue other than the Purple Man! Jessica finally leaves the bar, and also leaves Luke and Dani, to investigate the Purple Problem. It’s fun to see her paired with the newly minted Black King, Emma Frost, and Jessica clearly shines with another badass female character. And I haven’t enjoyed Emma this much in ages.

But truthfully, Jessica’s team up really should have been with Luke.

Back in the last issue of volume one, Luke accidentally buys purple balloons for Dani’s birthday, which triggers Jessica. Luke recognizes that he doesn’t fully understand Jessica’s trauma, and he tells her to be vulnerable with him – so why doesn’t Luke (and Thompson) make good on that promise?

This is, perhaps, the most vulnerable state their relationship could ever be in: Luke and Jessica can’t help but question if their marriage is a lie, if Jessica is still being controlled, if Dani is truly Luke’s daughter…it’s heavy shit. And yet, Jessica doesn’t let Luke investigate with her as she returns to her traumatic past. Luke doesn’t bribe Iron Fist to babysit Dani, and then insist that he not let Jessica do this alone.

Plus, there’s a major plot development at the end that would almost guarantee some significant trust issues and insecurity on both ends, but everything is wrapped up with a nice bow, and somehow the relationship doesn’t change much. Aside from both agreeing about Emma Frost’s boobs, I guess.

Thompson is great at writing heroines (Jessica, Kate Bishop, Elsa Bloodstone), but her villains are often convoluted and far fetched. Kate Bishop’s first villains were a hate cult that used stickers for mind control; in West Coast Avengers, M.O.D.O.K. builds himself a hot bod and zaps women into giant animals. The theme continues in Purple Daughter, with a convoluted, confusing and predictable villain; a hugely surprising, self-violating choice by Jessica that doesn’t seem to leave any emotional scars; and an infuriating escape that still robs Jessica of her peace. (How Jessica doesn’t just move into a therapist’s office is beyond me – though I was actually hoping we’d at least see her visit the support group again.)

The biggest highlight of the book is Mattia De Iulis’ gorgeous art. Everything is clean and sharp, and he uses a combination of blurring and color to show depth and movement. His texturing and shadowing work is also incredible, particularly Jessica’s leather pants and lovely hair detail too. Some of the fighting scenes just crackle on the page and De Iulis’ strong facial expressions really bring characters to life. Even though an artist switch during one issue fit the narrative, Andrade’s style was a bit too rough and unfinished for my liking. Perhaps that’s what the story was going for, but I would have preferred De Iulis use his style more creatively to get the same point across.

There’s no confirmation online, but I believe the series is on hiatus but there’s more Jessica Jones to come (mostly based on this post on De Iulis’ Instagram, which shows some new art). I’m still on board for future issues, Thompson remains one of my favorite writers and De Iulis is fast becoming a favorite artist too…I just hope Purple villains have been put to rest, permanently.